4 Comments

The noise problem currently being experienced by the K6JE repeater, is a very common problem for repeaters.

There is a chain link fence at the base of the tower we currently have our active 2m antenna on. The fence surrounds the anchor point of several guy wires for another structure. Our 1/2” hard line and messenger line were both rolled up and lashed to the chain link fence when we weren’t using it.

We removed the coax / messenger line roll and strung it back across the lot between the tower and the KSBW structure. When we removed the roll from the fence, we may have inadvertently loosened the fence around the guy wires that allows it to wiggle in windy conditions up there.

When there’s loose metal near a repeater antenna, the TX signal paints the loose metal with RF causing arcing as the metal surfaces move by wind or other vibration. The arcing created by the RF hot metal causes the creation of broad band RF noise (emissions) that you hear in the receiver as scratching or static sounds.

So we need to go back up to the site and:

1 Re enforce the chain link fencing around the guy wire anchor by using some new chain link fence wires to tighten any fence that may be rubbing when the wind blows.

2 We need to take the messenger line wire that’s holding up the 1/2” hard line, and hard secure it to the KSBW cable run grid structure to eliminate any possible rubbing.

That should stop the wind related noise problem. Hopefully we can get up there next week with good weather, and get things clamped down.

KK6VST: New HAM as of about 2 weeks ago!. I live in Greenfield, and work in Salinas. I am interested in learning more about Amateur Radio and getting more involved in Amateur Radio. Emergency Management and ARES and RACES have always interested me. I am already involved somewhat in Emergency Management through my work.

Hi Rhonda, Welcome to ham radio. There is an active group of Amateur radio ARES members in Monterey County. If you can make it you should come to our next general meeting of Monterey County ARES which will be held on Sept. 1st at 7PM at the OES in Salinas at 1322 Natividad Road, Salinas, CA 93902. Contact me at wa6dij @ arrl . net (remove spaces) if you have questions.

KK6VST: New HAM as of about 2 weeks ago!. I live in Greenfield, and work in Salinas. I am interested in learning more about Amateur Radio and getting more involved in Amateur Radio. Emergency Management and ARES and RACES have always interested me. I am already involved somewhat in Emergency Management through my work.

Trying to get in touch with Alan Jump. I found his name as a member of Professional Society of Drone Journalists (PSDJ). I am a retired graphic designer now living in my hometown Salinas. I built a DJI F550 with WooKong-M Waypoint and CCTV and hope to volunteer for Monterey County Search & Rescue as well as a commercial venture when it becomes available next year. When I lived in Oregon, I was a volunteer for Red Cross Emergency Services. Now, I want to help using my drone. If you pass theword, I would appreciate it. Thanks